Julian Wood
About Julian Wood
Researcher
Julian works on our economics project, primarily examining regional development in New Zealand. With a Master’s in Social Science from Waikato University, Julian brings a depth of experience from his time working as a senior policy analyst for the Department of Labour, where he focused on labour market dynamics, minimum wage and employment legislation, regional development, business dynamics, and immigration.
Most Recent Activity
Funding roads in the electric future
By Julian Wood
In a recent blog, I made the case for regional petrol taxes, which would allow district and town authorities to…
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Paying at the pump to revive our crumbling infrastructure
By Julian Wood
We hear a lot about Auckland’s infrastructure woes, but across the country there are regions desperately trying to fund their…
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Investing in people, regardless of return
By Julian Wood
Like the proverbial frog in the slowly heating pot, many of us are blissfully unaware of the change currently going…
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The Budget partnership between the people and our Government
By Julian Wood
Each year the Budget charts a broad course for the years ahead. It outlines how much money the Government has,…
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Tax the robots?
By Julian Wood
We’re now quite used to dire predictions concerning the future of work, job stability, and automation. As far back as…
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New Zealand, let’s stop being a cheap date
By Julian Wood
Travellers are enamoured with us. Last year, 3.5 million visitors arrived in New Zealand to check us out. This is…
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Get real about regional spending
By Julian Wood
If you put people in a room and ask them how to bring growth to New Zealand’s regions, someone will…
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Growing Beyond Growth: Rethinking the goals of regional development in New Zealand
By Julian Wood
New Zealand is already feeling the effects of an oncoming wave of economic and demographic change. Over the next 30…
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The regional role of iwi
By Julian Wood
Bill English has made a splash in the last few days, both for his sheep shearing skills and his first-time…
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The ‘un-meat’ needs of our regions
By Julian Wood
In 1798, Thomas Malthus, a controversial but influential political economist, predicted that the world’s population would soon outstrip its food…
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The true cost of getting “Ready for Work”
By Julian Wood
Labour’s “Ready For Work” policy is a great idea. Unveiled at the party’s conference, the plan offers on the job…
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Not helping harms us
By Julian Wood
Last week the Hamilton Central Business Association enacted the “Your Help May Harm” campaign, aiming “to educate the public on the…
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“Beautiful as heaven, lonely as hell”
By Julian Wood
I have heard friends of mine visiting New Zealand describe it as “beautiful as heaven, and lonely as hell.” If…
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Clear expectations
By Julian Wood
The Reserve Bank has done a fantastic job over the last 27 years, doing what it is supposed to do…
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Minimum wage opportunities
By Julian Wood
As a tool to help people who are struggling to get by, an increase to the minimum wage is a…
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Free tertiary policy lacks precision
By Julian Wood
I never knew the “glory days” of tertiary education where everything was free. After high school I was ushered into…
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